As young adults, children, grandchildren, teachers, administrators, and bus drivers all begin anew many are holding their breaths as to what might come of this attempt. I know I am because I have players in the game. Colleges to kindergarten and daycare to night school are all facing a lot of unknowns with different plans and disagreements on paths of action.

Tensions are going to be strained. Parents are already apprehensive on a large scale as to any number of concerns for safety, communications, and really every aspect of their kid’s days now. Funny how a pandemic can bring such sudden interest among parents.

There is only trouble ahead. We are dammed if we do and dammed if we didn’t. Our success is how we respond and move forward in the best interest of everyone in a school. We need to teach our children resilience and staying focused on goals through difficult times and we are having some success but also some failures.

I thought about reactions and things asked of previous generations during crises and tough times. I thought about my Mom who was born in 1923 and raised in the depression. In her late teens, this country entered WW2 and she married a Navy man who served in the Pacific and also Korea and on operation Deep Freeze. Think about those few things. There was no Zoom or everyone with a cell phone. Communications were by letter and sometimes depending on where they were long times between while knowing they were in harm’s way every day.

And even though he survived those things he died at a young age due to those wars and she was left to raise a 9 and 7-year-old alone. Despite this, I was raised with a very positive, strong, and forward-looking person who believed in people and doing good. And of course, doing what was needed to overcome.

Yes, I admit this pandemic has caused people living on the edge (and there are lots of them) for this to be equivalent to a Depressions era event as was experienced back in the 1920s. Yes, there has been a tremendous loss of life (I believe about 230 thousand more than was lost in WW2 so yes there has been tremendous suffering by those ravaged by the virus by those who didn’t survive and even some who have, who now have lasting effects.

But I’m talking about a majority of us coming through fairly unscathed. A lot of people well off complaining like a child throwing a tantrum in a store because they can’t have a dinner out or they have to wear a mask someplace or their package is delayed or they can’t get the car they wanted because of a chip shortage.

The only thing that I’ve let get to me has been the decreased face-to-face time with friends and family. But if that means everyone’s safety for a short period of time, come on, that is a very small sacrifice.

The truth is very few if any know exactly what is coming and what duration this is going to take. I’m expecting chaos this year for kids. And that is because my daughter’s daycare has already closed for a period of time due to the virus. We have made adjustments because we can and will do anything for our children and grandchildren.

I recognize not everyone is in a position to do that and that is why we all are needed to help minimize the impact. Be it emotional support, monetary support, or even help in care for family or friends. We all need to pitch in and in many ways, not just for our own families but of those around us and far away.

Maybe neighbors need to be more of an extended family. Maybe the well-to-do can contribute to those less fortunate or hit by natural disasters. Maybe employers can step up their flexibility. Maybe we can all find something to do a bigger part in. Or just simple things like taking the time to be supportive of someone. It would be the best example for our youth.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• Use the tools you have often and wisely, and you will succeed.
• I’m not thrilled with days that include doctors appointments.
• I work with a lot of young people. They seem to lack more patience than us old farts.